Pakistan Journal of Scientific & Industrial Research Series A: Physical Sciences

Puffed Rice Biochar: Characterization and Adsorption Studies for Methyl Orange Dye Elimination

Aneek Krishna Karmakar — 2025-10-23

This study investigated the use of puffed rice biochar for the removal of methyl orange (MO) dye. The effects of various factors, including shaking duration, particle size, MO dye concentration and temperature, were examined. FTIR and SEM analyses were conducted to understand the mechanisms behind the effective removal of methyl orange (MO) dye using puffed rice biochar. Both techniques together offer a comprehensive view of the biochar's characteristics, combining chemical composition and surface morphology insights. Equilibrium in the adsorption process was reached within 60 min. Larger particle sizes are associated with lower Ce values, indicating that smaller particles are more effective at adsorbing MO, leading to higher yields. The adsorption process was efficient, especially at higher MO concentrations, with puffed rice biochar effectively removing methyl orange due to its porous structure and surface functional groups. However, at elevated MO concentrations, the biochar's adsorption capacity becomes limited. The thermodynamic study indicated that the process exhibited exothermic behaviour and was spontaneous within the temperature range of 20 °C to 30 °C. However, positive G° values at higher temperatures suggested that the process became non-spontaneous and required the input of external energy. This implies that adsorption is more effective at lower temperatures, while higher temperatures may lead to desorption, affecting the overall colour removal efficiency. At a temperature of 313 K and with particles measuring 170 µm, nearly 96% of the dye was successfully removed by the system. FTIR and SEM analyses revealed the presence of several surface functional groups and a crystalline structure in the biochar, which are crucial for dye removal. The Langmuir model was found to better fit the adsorption isotherms, indicating that MO adsorption follows a monolayer pattern. The porous and crystalline structure of the biochar was also confirmed by SEM, suggesting potential for further enhancement.

Biochemical Analysis of Inorganic Ions in Normal and Hepatitis C Patients

Fahad Ali — 2025-10-23

Trace elements are crucial for human metabolism, primarily processed in the liver. Liver diseases can alter their levels, especially during viral infections like Hepatitis C (HCV). HCV can lead to chronic liver problems. The blood samples were collected in ‘gel and clot activator’ tubes, allowed to clot and the serum was separated. Nitric acid was added to the serum to coagulate proteins and the samples were heated for one day at 150 °C for protein digestion. The pH was adjusted to 7 using ammonium hydroxide. Using Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry (AAS), researchers found that HCV patients had higher levels of iron (Fe), lead (Pb), manganese (Mn), cobalt (Co) and copper (Cu) but lower levels of zinc (Zn) compared to healthy individuals.

Development of Qirbah from Goat, Cow and Buffalo Skins to Improve the Quality of Potable Water

Agus Mulyono — 2025-10-23

In a hadith narrated from Jabir Radliallahu anhu the Messenger of Allah visited a house belonging to the Ansar with a friend and said to the owner of the house. If you have water in your Qirbah (skin water container) left over from last night, give it to us to drink, otherwise let us drink from its direct stream (Sahih Bukhari). For this reason, it is fundamental to investigate on the quality of drinking water put away in Qirbah made of animal skin. This aims to study to determine the effect of water storage containers (goats skin Qirbah, cow skin Qirbah, buffalo skin Qirbah and plastic) on the physical properties of water (pH, conductivity, temperature, oxygen content and total dissolved solid/TDS) and on the growth of E. coli bacteria. The water used is raw well water and boiled water which is stored in goat skin Qirbah, cow skin Qirbah, buffalo skin Qirbah, plastic and ceramic containers for three days. Then observations and measurements were made every day. The pH, conductivity, temperature, oxygen, TDS and bacterial growth. The results of data analysis showed that the container affected pH, temperature, conductivity, TDS, oxygen level and the growth of E. coli bacteria in raw well water and boiled well water. The results showed that there were differences in the quality of drinking water in water stored in Qirbah and plastic and there are also differences in the quality of drinking water in water stored in goat skin Qirbah, cow skin Qirbah and buffalo skin Qirbah. Qirbah is better than plastic because it can inhibit the growth of bacteria in drinking water.

Dependencies of Optical Properties on the Thickness of SnO2 Thin Layers Grown with CSP Method

Harakat Mohsin Roomy — 2025-10-23

Optically transparent oxide thin layers have been the subject of considerable interest over the past century due to their potential applications. As a result, the development of thin films with high optical transparency has been a prominent area of investigation. SnO2 represents a significant member of the oxide materials family, exhibiting exceptional optical transparency across a broad range of the electromagnetic spectrum and low electrical resistance. In this study, the optical properties of pure SnO2 thin layers were investigated. For this purpose, different thicknesses (510, 630, 770 and 940 nm) prepared by chemical spray pyrolysis (CSP) technique and deposited on glass substrates at 400 °C. Within the visible-region, the SnO2 films exhibited a high optical transmittance of “85-90%”, it was observed that an increase in thickness of the thin layers resulted in a reduction in band gap, high absorbance and low transmittance. For wavelength (330-900 nm) the following parameters were calculated: absorption coefficient, index of refraction, constants of real and imaginary dielectric, extinction coefficients, optical conductivity and energy gap for all types of optical electronic transitions by using Shimadzu UV-2450 spectrophotometer.

Efficient Removal of Heavy Metals from Water Using Magnetite Nanoparticles Synthesis, Characterization and Adsorption Performance

Anwar A. Jumaa — 2025-10-24

Nanomaterials, especially nanoparticles (NPs), have recently directed studies on mitigating water pollution due to their essential characteristics that make them very useful as sorbents. Here, a co-precipitation method is used to synthesize magnetite iron oxide (Fe3O4) NPs in order to employ them for remediating heavy metal-polluted effluents. The resulting Fe3O4 NPs are characterized by different techniques and tested for the removal of heavy metals from effluents of inner rivers in Basrah city, Iraq. FE-SEM analysis reveals spherical-like morphology of the NPs with an average size of 34.90 nm and zeta potential measurement indicates the presence of negative charge on their surface. Meanwhile, based on BET analysis, the surface area of the NPs is found to be 35.87 m2/g. Adsorption experiments are utilized to select optimal conditions, taking into consideration of the influence of contact time, temperature and pH for heavy metal removal from simulated or polluted effluents. The results obtained demonstrate a high removal percentage ....................

Predictive Designation and construction of a Darsonval Device for Investigating Chemical Properties of DBD Plasma-Activated Sodium Chloride

Mansoureh Lafouti — 2025-10-24

This study investigates the effect of plasma treatment on a NaCl solution using a darsonval corona device. Absorption spectroscopy was used to detect the spectra of the NaCl solution and after treating the solution with plasma for 5 ms a wavelength range between 200 and 290 nm was observed, with a small shoulder around 220 nm. The disappearance of the Cl- peak and the emergence of a new peak around the HOCl wavelength indicate that plasma treatment induces significant chemical changes in the NaCl solution. The formation of hydroxyl radicals (OH-) during plasma treatment suggests that these reactive species play a crucial role in the oxidative processes occurring in the solution. Additionally, the presence of nitrite and nitrate ions in the treated solution suggests that plasma treatment enhances the production of these reactive species, leading to their increased presence in the solution. These results provide valuable insights into the mechanisms of plasma-induced chemical reactions and highlight the potential applications of plasma technology in water treatment and chemical synthesis.

Assessing the Spatio-Temporal Dynamics of Kumrat Forest Through Remote Sensing: A Comprehensive Land Use and Land Cover Analysis (1992-2019)

Alia Mehsud — 2025-10-24

The northern forests of Pakistan, particularly in the Kumrat valley of Dir Kohistan have witnessed significant changes in land use and land cover due to the pressures of anthropogenic activity, population growth, urbanization and various agricultural and developmental processes. The current study focuses on the crucial task of assessing and monitoring these dynamic forest ecosystems for their protection, management and conservation. Utilizing high-resolution remotely sensed data, the research conducted an in-depth analysis of land use and land cover changes over a span of 27 years (1992-2019). High-resolution landsat satellite images from four key years (1992, 2001, 2012 and 2019) were acquired and meticulously classified into distinct land cover categories. Change detection mapping was performed by comparing the land cover maps of 1992 and 2019, further refined using validated google earth imagery. The current findings reveal that during the period, there was a notable 9.0% reduction in forested areas and a 7.7% decline in barren land. In contrast agricultural land and rangeland witnessed an increase of 4.8% and 7.2%, respectively, signifying changing land use patterns. Furthermore, the area covered by glaciers expanded by 4.7%, while the extent of water bodies remained unchanged. The overall classification accuracies for the years 1992, 2001, 2012 and 2019 were 73%, 74%, 70% and 70% respectively, with corresponding Kappa statistics ranging from 57% to 64%. These insights provide valuable information for forest planning and the formulation of effective conservation and management policies in the Kumrat valley and similar forested regions. Understanding the dpatio-temporal dynamics of land use and land cover is essential for sustaining these vital ecosystems and ensuring the long-term well-being of the environment and its inhabitants.

Impact of High Calorific Value Biomass Substrate for High Yield of Biomethane

Razia Begum — 2025-10-24

The global push towards sustainable energy solutions has intensified the exploration of biomass substrates for bio methane production. This study evaluates the biomethane potential of various organic wastes, including neem deoiled cake (NDC), mango kernel (MK), waste maize flour (WMF) and cow dung (CD), with a specific focus on their physico-chemical properties and calorific values. Among the tested substrates, NDC exhibited the highest calorific value at 5219 Kcal/Kg, followed by MK at 4932 Kcal/Kg, WMF at 4187 Kcal/Kg and CD at 1820 Kcal/Kg. NDC also demonstrated substantial total solids (TS: 92.5%) and volatile solids (VS: 84.7%), indicating its strong potential for enhanced biomethane yield. Key parameters such as pH, moisture content, ash content, total nitrogen and carbon-to-nitrogen (C:N) ratio were systematically characterized: NDC had a pH of 6.7, moisture content of 7.5%, ash content of 6.8%, total nitrogen of 4.2% and a C:N ratio of 23:1. MK showed a pH of 6.3, moisture content of 8.2%, ash content of 5.1%, total nitrogen of 2.9% and a C:N ratio of 30:1. WMF presented a pH of 6.5, moisture content of 10.4%, ash content of 4.7%, total nitrogen of 1.8% and a C:N ratio of 36:1. CD had a pH of 7.1, moisture content of 78.4%, ash content of 15.2%, total nitrogen of 1.4% and a C:N ratio of 19:1. Additionally, essential trace metals critical for microbial metabolism, such as iron (Fe), zinc (Zn) and copper (Cu), were detected in adequate concentrations, supporting efficient methane generation. The findings emphasize the significance of selecting high-energy, nutrient-rich biomass to optimize bio methane production, highlighting NDC and MK as particularly promising substrates for scalable renewable energy systems.

Investigation of Biochemical Markers of Covid-19 Infected Patients

Nauman Khokkar — 2025-10-24

Covid-19 is a highly contagious viral disease caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-COV-2). The objective of this research was to assess the clinical and hematological parameters of COVID-19-positive patients in order to identify potential biomarkers for the disease. The study included 2661 clinical reports from patients aged 25-90, with 1588 males and 1073 females. Blood samples were analyzed for various parameters and the N gene was targeted for SARS-CoV-2 detection through PCR. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS 22.0 and presented results with mean values and standard deviations, with significance levels set at P < 0.05. Our study found that 59.7% of patients were male and within the 41-65 age group. Hematological analysis revealed significant associations between RBC levels (P < 0.001*) and normal monocyte levels (P = 0.04*). Additionally, 87% of patients had lymphopenia, 78% had leukocytosis, 84.6% had neutrophilia and 11.3% had thrombocytopenia. Clinical profiles showed elevated levels of CRP (98.9%), LDH (74.2%), ferritin (84.8%), D-dimer (97.8%) and significant association with albumin (<0.01). Finally, variations in urea and creatinine suggested potential renal involvement.

Some Temperature Indices of the Chemical Structure of Favipiravir

Abdul Hakeem — 2025-10-24

Favipiravir is an antiviral medication that has shown potential in treating COVID-19. Topological indices, on the other hand are mathematical descriptors used to quantify the molecular structure of compounds. These indices provide insights into the physical, chemical and biological properties of molecules. In this manuscript when applied to favipiravir, topological indices can help analyse its molecular structure and predict various features related to its bioactivity and pharmacological properties. These indices may include parameters such as. First and second temperature indices, hyper first and second temperature indices, reciprocal product connectivity temperature, first and second general temperature indexes, and general temperature index of a molecular graph. Consequently, the results and findings were compute and investigated with the help of MATLAB. The correlation between the indices that define the Physico-chemical properties and biological activities. These findings and results may help design new medicine to treat COVID-19.

Comparative Study of Kinetic Parameters for Abstraction of Fe3+ from Monoferric (C- and N-terminal) and Diferric Forms of Bovine Lactoferrin by Acetohydroxamic Acid

Shazia Nisar — 2025-10-24

This study reports the kinetic parameters for the removal of Fe3+ from both the metal binding sites of bovine lactoferrin by acetohydroxamic acid (AHA). The values of observed rate constants (kobs) were determined for iron removal from diferric, N- and C-terminals of monoferric lactoferrin under pseudo first-order conditions of [L] at pH values 7.5, 5.0 and 3.5. A saturation behavior for the dependence of kobs on ligand concentration at pH 7.5 was observed. At pH 5.0, both the monoferric forms show a saturation behavior with diferric lactoferrin following a combination of linear and saturation pathways. For a saturation pathway kobs are:

kmax [L]

kobs =

where:

kd + [L]

[L] is the concentration of acetohydroxamic acid, kmax is the rate constant for the removal of iron at plateau, kd is ligand concentration required to reach half saturation.

While at pH 3.5, kobs follows: kobs = ko + k"' [L]

where:

k"' is the rate constant for iron abstraction from ferrilactoferrin through linear pathway, while ko is the rate constant for deferration of iron from ferrilactoferrin at lower pH and is independent of [L]. Moreover, the trends in the values of Kinetic parameters clearly show the inter-conversion of one type of pathway to another under varying conditions of pH.

Traditional to Modern of Aloe Application in Industry, A Review

Adamu Tizazu Yadeta — 2025-10-24

Many of the traditional uses of Aloe species have been confirmed by scientific studies. These days, a lot of companies are industrializing a range of goods made from Aloe. Aloe species serve as a foundation for a number of formulations, such as suntan lotions and moisturizers, which are humectants in skin preparations. In modern days, researchers are trying to confirm the scientific way of using these plants in both in vitro and in vivo trials for the therapeutic efficacy, responsible bioactive compounds, toxicology and dosages. Currently, incorporating Aloe extracts to the raw material of food industry is used to manufacture functional foods, nutraceutical foods, edible coating/films and antimicrobial agent foods. The study examined the effects of spraying Aloe vera extract and using organic fertilizer on the chemical composition, seed yield, oil yield and vegetative growth of plants Aloe species extract have been used to achieve high yields. Because Aloe species have a naturally occurring colour, they are used as thickening agents and in biotechnology applications for textile pretreatment and colouration. Taking into account their numerous health benefits and valuable chemical composition, the Aloe species could be regarded as economically significant matrices for the cosmetics, pharmaceutical, food, beverages, agricultural chemicals, printing and dye industries. As a result, controlled research will be needed in the future to demonstrate the Aloe species efficacy in a variety of settings while maintaining the species. In summary, Aloe species extracts are used to boost the efficacy of modern industrial inputs for varies products by combining them with other useful materials.

Review on Digitalization and Industry 4.0: Maintenance and Repair Operations (M.R.O.) with Predictive Approaches

Sohail Akhtar — 2025-10-24

This article provides a comprehensive overview of the repair and maintenance operations in multiple modern industries. Accordingly, maintenance and repair approaches are problematical and overbearing issues. Scientific methodology involves in repair operation uses data to figure out repair ideas. Also, it develops and supports theories and facts over repair operation and procedures. Digital tools can enable lab managers and scientists to achieve their ideal vision for the laboratory and manage workloads. This article emphasizes the importance of systematic planning and prudent management to address the diverse and numerous risks associated with maintenance and repair strategies. It tells how to delves into the practical aspects of maintenance and repair operations, emphasizing the historical approach of reactive maintenance and the need for a more proactive and systematic strategy. It also defines key terms such as repair, fault and fault detection and diagnosis, providing a comprehensive understanding of the scientific methodology involved in the repair of machines, equipment and appliances. The importance of understanding and implementing effective maintenance and repair strategies are aligned with modern business goals and ensure efficient operations.

Today’s, the era of fourth industrial revolution (Industry 4.0) is progressing due to the development of information and communications technologies (I.C.T.). The use of preventive/predictive maintenance (Pr./Pd.M.) approaches has become increasingly popular in recent years. The role of maintenance and repair operations/overhauls (M.R.O.) is very crucial and important aspect of intentional administration of assets/equipment and infrastructure. The aim is to optimize performance, minimize downtime and ensure operational excellence. Furthermore, it underscores the benefits of an effective M.R.O. program in enhancing efficiency, reducing costs and ensuring uninterrupted operations.